Dear colleagues, Fall has finally arrived! Although I am not a huge fan of the rain and the darkness, it is also a time of getting together, lighting candles, and hot chocolate!
But these are also challenging times, as you will have read in my message from two weeks ago, and after that in various newspapers. The financial situation of the UT remains an issue, which we are working to address with the team of Directors of Service Departments and Faculties to determine university-wide steps to reduce the costs. I am very proud to hear of the way the various CES departments are finding ways to work more effectively, cooperating between teams, and finding ways to have fun outings that don’t cost the world. Your support in this is very important to me and helps me to represent CES in this discussion, so thank you!
Another uncertainty is the elections next week. The results will be a huge factor in the future of Higher Education in the coming years. Nearly everyone I speak to has difficulties deciding what to vote. So if you have time, do visit or listen to the ‘Torentje naar Torentje’ interviews, to hear what the political leaders have to say. It is also quite fun that all those politicians are just walking through our buildings and seeing our beautiful campus (yes, even on rainy November days).
Yet, not all is doom and gloom. The MT is having our bi-annual meetings with the faculties these weeks. We speak to those involved in the educational support in the faculties (vice-dean education, head of educational services, director of the faculty) with several of the CES MT members. These are interesting conversations, a good way to connect and know what is happening, where we can improve cooperation and learn more about each other’s work. There are already some interesting suggestions on expanding this beyond the MT level, we will keep you posted!
Going back to my first point: I am very much looking forward to our Christmas get together! It will be dark, it will probably rain, and there will still be financial issues to solve and a new cabinet to be installed. But we will get together with all the lovely and fun CES colleagues to celebrate what we have achieved this year. I am counting down the days!
Best wishes
Lieke
